“My hidden talent is martial arts. I originally started karate with my father when I was 8. I went from doing kickboxing to Shorin-Ryu, which is a form of art that’s not necessarily about fighting but mostly about technique. To put it simply, It’s like a kung-fu variant. So, I did that up until 16, when I focused solely on football.
“Does pineapple belong on pizza? Absolutely not. I’m not saying it isn’t good, but I would and do keep fruit off pizza. So yeah, no pineapple on pizza.
“Most of you have probably seen it, but I have a big tattoo on my arm. So, there are four Roman numerals depicting the years 1971, 1975, 2006, and 2011. Each of these is for the birth year of my parents, myself, and my sister. Ever since I got this first one, I have kept thinking about the next one so there’s one in the works.
“A piece of advice I’d give to a student-athlete is to be grateful where you’re at. I’ve had a lot of troubles in the past couple of years with different things. Maybe you’re not playing as much as you’d like, but you have to be honest and look at the situation and say, ‘Hey, I’m still here; let’s take matters into my own hands and work.’ So yeah, take the initiative, do what your gut feelings say, and be appreciative.
“I have to credit my dad; he’s been the biggest factor in my success. He’s helped me overcome many challenges, and I definitely wouldn’t be here without him.
“I’d say the biggest area of growth for me since leaving home to go to school in the US is my mental strength. I’ve faced lots of challenges, and those obstacles have helped me grow. So yeah, all the ups and downs have gotten me to a point where I’m well-equipped to face any situation.”
As told to Gavin Kruger ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
